BAVARIA 39 C Sail Configuration Guide

Overview

The BAVARIA 39 C, designed by J & J, is a robust production cruiser engineered for comfortable offshore passage-making and family coastal cruising. Part of a nine-boat fleet, it balances a spacious 4.00m beam with a manageable rig for short-handed sailing.

Rig Specifications & Performance Analysis

• Mainsail Configuration: A P/E ratio of 2.82 indicates a moderate aspect rig, providing a balanced center of effort for stable cruising.
• Foretriangle Design: The I/J ratio of 3.47 favors larger, overlapping genoas but is equally efficient with high-aspect working jibs.
• Sail Area: 67m² total upwind area provides a healthy displacement-to-sail-area ratio for light-to-moderate air performance.
• Performance: The configuration is heavily cruising-oriented, focusing on predictable handling and stiffness rather than extreme light-wind acceleration.

Popular Sail Configurations

• Mainsail: Typically found with in-mast furling for convenience or slab-reefing for improved shape control.
• Headsail: Most owners utilize a 130-135% furling genoa for versatile power across varied wind ranges.

Key Characteristics

• Moderate aspect mainsail ensures manageable reefing loads and reduced heeling moments.
• High I/J ratio allows for powerful headsails, making the boat weatherly in light air.
• 11.96m LOA and 1.88m draft create a stiff platform that tracks well upwind.
• Balanced sail plan minimizes weather helm, enhancing autopilot efficiency during long passages.

Sailing Considerations

• Recommended for a crew of two to four for optimal sail handling.
• Performance is most efficient in 10-18 knots of true wind.
• The boat remains stiff and stable; however, reefing the mainsail is recommended as winds exceed 19 knots to maintain balance.

Sailmaking Recommendations

For the BAVARIA 39 C, we recommend SurgeX membrane sails as the optimal choice for most sailors. SurgeX uses continuous fiber construction where fibers are laid along load paths and embedded in a thin membrane, providing superior shape retention compared to traditional Dacron while being more affordable than premium laminates. The continuous fiber structure means less stretch over time, maintaining the designed sail shape for years.

For racing applications, specify a lightweight SurgeX configuration with minimal base weight to maximize performance. For cruising or bluewater sailing, add a taffeta protective layer on both sides to enhance UV resistance and abrasion protection. Based on the 2.82 P/E ratio, a fiber-aligned radial layout works best to handle the vertical loads of the mainsail. A typical inventory includes a full-battened mainsail, a 105% furling jib for heavy air, and a 135% genoa for light-air versatility. With 67m² of sail area, plan to reef the mainsail around 18-20 knots to maintain an upright, efficient plane.

Conclusion

The BAVARIA 39 C offers a dependable and balanced sail plan that excels in diverse cruising conditions. Explore sail options for the BAVARIA 39 C to maximize your vessel's performance and longevity.